FAQ

It is indeed the case that you can lose weight by living a healthy life and exercising more. But if you are very overweight, it is almost never possible to maintain that for a longer period of time and and keep a healthy weight. Scientific research shows that people who lose weight with diet and exercise are back to their old weight (and usually a little more) in 95% of cases. Bariatric (weightloss) surgery is the most effective way to lose weight.

Medication can help to lose weight, but usually that does not help enough. Most medication has to be prescribed and has side effects. There are two kinds:

1: Medication that binds fat (for instance Orlistat). These give an average of a few kilos of weight loss. A disadvantage is fatty diarrhea. In the long run the effect is small.

2: GLP-1 analogues. These drugs do give reasonable weight loss, sometimes up to 20%. They are mainly prescribed for diabetes in combination with obesity. The disadvantage is that they are very expensive and must be given per weekly injection. For a lasting effect, it must be maintained for the rest of your life. Costs run up to €2000 per year.

Every operation has some risk. The risk of weightloss surgery is similar to a gallbladder excision. The risk of a serious complication is around 2%. The risk of death is 1 in 1000. So there is indeed a risk with surgery. But someone who is seriously overweight also runs a considerable risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other conditions without surgery.

After a weightloss procedure, people lose an average of 80% of their excess weight in the first two years after surgery. After that they often gain a little again, on average 15% to 25%. Yet they are still much lighter than before their operation. For maximum results, also in the long term, everyone receives a coaching program in which they try to learn healthier habits. Ultimately, 70% of people manage to keep more than 50% of their excess weight off for more than 10 years. This result cannot be achieved with any other treatment.

Many people who are eligible for a weightloss procedure do not know this themselves. A rule of thumb is that if you are one and a half times your normal weight, you may qualify. More accurate is the BMI (Body Mass Index). With a BMI of 35-40 you may be a candidate for a weightloss procedure. Read here what the BMI is and when you qualify, or do the Operation Check.

People who are seriously overweight are candidates for bariatric surgery. If you meet the conditions, the operation is insured in the basic package. This means that the health insurer pays the costs of the operation and the coaching process. You do have to pay the excess (own risk) of € 385 yourself. After the operation, the digestive system has changed and you absorb food less easily. This also increases the risk of a vitamin deficiency. It is therefore strongly recommended to take extra vitamins for life. Unfortunately, vitamins are not reimbursed and you have to pay for them yourself.

That depends very much on gender, age, fat distribution and BMI. Usually the skin around the torso becomes looser. In about 30% of people, an abdominal wall correction is later performed by the plastic surgeon because of excess skin.

There is no direct answer to that. The choice for an operation is made in consultation with the surgeon. This takes into account age, personal preference, additional illnesses, the presence of acid complaints, previous operations, etc. In the Netherlands, there is some preference for performing a Gastric Bypass because of the long experience with the procedure and the very reliable outcomes. About 70% of all interventions in The Netherlands are a gastric bypass or aMini Gastric Bypass.

Fact: Many people are wrong about this. If you are 20 kg or more overweight, you might already qualify. Read about the criteria for weightloss surgery here.

Fact: Even though you may feel healthy, being overweight can be harmful. Damage to your body will occur unnoticed. Your risk of getting a disease will rise and your life expectancy is shorter.

Fact: It is true that after a weightloss procedure the portions are smaller. But in general you can eat everything. Your sensation for hunger will be lower and you will feel satisfied sooner. That is why you will eat less.

Fact: Nowadays we have become so good at this operation that the risk is small. The risk is comparable to a gall bladder excision. About 2% of people have to deal with a serious complication. One in a thousand people decease after surgery related complications.

Fact: For most people this is not true. On average you will lose more than 80% over your overweight. 15-20% of people will regain some of the lost weight, but almost never up to the previous levels.

Fact: Unfortunately this is not true. Doing a diet and sporting will help, but in almost all cases this is temporary. Less than 5% of people manage to keep this up for the rest of their lives. Besides, the effect is almost always far less than the result of surgery.

Fact A weightloss procedure is reimbursed out of the basic insurance package. This means you only pay the 'own risk' part.

Fact: 90% of people go home the day after surgery. This means you will only be in the clinic for 1 night.